Art & Life with Tom Haney

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tom Haney.

Tom, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I started making kinetic artworks, (whirligigs mostly), with my wife, shortly after moving to Atlanta from Cincinnati. This was in the early 90s, and I was a self-employed prop and model-maker for TV, movies, and commercial photographers. My first figurative art pieces were interactive – more like wooden marionettes, controlled by keys out front. I made the first few pieces for myself, but quickly realized this was something I thoroughly enjoyed, and something I could maybe make a living at. I continued making pieces – and I kept them all – as I knew someday I would have an art show, or some sort of event where I would need a full collection of works. In 1999, a friend told me about the juried outdoor art fairs that are held all over the country. He said that at some of the top-tier shows, one could sell artwork in the $3000. – $4000 range. I’d never heard of such shows, but I decided to apply to them. I got in a couple of the most competitive show, and soon decided this was how I was going to make a living at making art. In 2000, I stopped making props, switched over to making my kinetic figurative pieces full-time – and have never looked back. In 2007, I switched from doing the art fairs to selling my work in galleries. I’ve been in galleries from coast to coast – though usually only one at a time. Last year, I decided to pull out of galleries completely, and to go back to selling my work myself – directly to people. I survive on doing commissions, and other special projects.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I make automata – figurative, kinetic sculpture. I started out with simple mechanisms, got into more complicated ones, and now I go back and forth between both. Sometimes I make static figures, and abstract sculptures as well.

My figures are all hand-carved from basswood, the heads are sculpted from polymer clay, and all of my mechanisms are built from scratch. Though I sometimes add found objects to my scenes, much of what I do is meticulously hand-crafted – a process that often takes days and weeks to complete. My process also includes woodworking, sewing, (both machine and by hand), painting, aging/antiquing, and even decoupage. Sometimes I use electric motors, and small lights – though I purposely try to keep these materials low-tech.

I always try to create pieces that have a strong narratives – focusing on stories we can all relate to – often about overcoming life’s challenges.

I hope that people can relate to my narratives, and hope that by adding subtle movements to static figures – they are compelled to stop, observe, and interpret the meaning of the stories for themselves. I believe my pieces are still interactive in this way.

What responsibility, if any, do you think artists have to use their art to help alleviate problems faced by others? Has your art been affected by issues you’ve concerned about?
I’m not sure if the role of artists has changed – maybe it’s just intensified?

And I’m not sure how much events have affected my work recently. My work was never very political – yes, it seeps in every now and then – but I don’t let events influence my work. I try to keep those 2 things separate.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
Currently I have 6 of my kinetic pieces on display at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport – Terminal E. They will be there until the end of September.

I also have a studio Downtown, and am open to visitors – as long as they give me a heads-up first.

I also have a website – www.tomhaney.com, a YouTube Channel, a blog, an Etsy shop – I’m on Facebook (Tom Haney’s Artwork), Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and more.

Contact Info:

• Address: Studio –
  132 Cone Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30303
  (Please give a few day’s notice before you come.)
• Website: http://www.tomhaney.com/
• Phone: 404-659-3160 (studio landline)
• Email: tom@tomhaney.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomhaneyartwork/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tom-Haneys-Artwork-329467316176/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/tom_haney
• Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVvAMbuYV3f4p4buoulapQ

Image Credit:
Gregory Campbell (Personal photo only)

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